This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, offers analysis, commentary, and reportage about the $4.9 billion project to build the Barclays Center arena and 16 high-rise buildings at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group bought a 70% stake in 15 towers. New York State still calls it Atlantic Yards. Contact: AtlanticYardsReport[at]hotmail.com

The Arena will be available to community groups for at least ten (10) events per year, at a reasonable rate, with net proceeds from such events to be used to support non-profit community organizations.

The arena opened 9/28/12, but Downtown Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (DBNA) is still working on the events. DBNA executive director Sharon Daughtry, as I reported 11/17/12, said arena developer Forest City Ratner had provided ten open dates available for potential community use. Such events could fill the arena, or a smaller portion, or even just the 40/40 Club or practice court.

I checked back recently. "We are in the planning stages now and we're working out the details with Barclays and FCRC before making a formal public presentation," she said.

Not until second year

Daughtry said the program likely won't get off the ground until the second year of operations, which begins 9/28/13.

"At this point, we haven't definitively put any event on the calendar because the program in still being formulated," she said. "In fact, we haven't made a public announcement regarding guidelines and rules for participation yet. We want to make sure that this process is fair and transparent to all, so we are taking our time, crossing our 't' s and dotting our 'i'. I feel safe in saying that the events booked with our program should take place during the following year."

Daughtry said some proposals have been submitted, but have done so "simply because they heard about it" rather than responding to a call for submissions.